Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The Holy Family is the earthly representation of the Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make up the perfect family that shares sacrificial, agape love between themselves. This is the same love we are called to have for one another that we hear about in our second reading. Heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another are all fruits of sacrificial love. Love is the bond of perfection. Love is the bond between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and love is the bond between Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. The heart of every parent is their children. Jesus is the heart of both the Trinity and the Holy Family and joins the Holy Family to the Trinity in a unique and special way.

The first three of the Ten Commandments tell us how to live in right relationship with God. The next seven commandments tell us how to live in right relationship with one another. The commandment to honor our father and mother is the first of these seven. It is so important to God that it comes even before the commandment not to murder. It is the only one of the Ten Commandments that comes with a promise of a reward for those who obey it. Long life, atonement for sin, and preservation from it are promised to those who honor their parents. Moreover, it is promised that the kindness we give to our parents will not be forgotten and that it will be a bulwark against our sins.

The command to honor our parents is not solely directed at the children. It is also a command to parents to live lives worthy to be honored. It is easy to honor good and loving parents. Not all of us have been so blessed. How do you honor a parent who is not good or loving? We honor them by loving them and we love them by praying for their good. We honor them by forgiving them for the wrongs they have done to us. To forgive is to let go. If you cannot bring yourself to forgive them, give God permission to forgive them for you and ask him to soften your heart so you too may one day forgive.

We honor the Holy Family today because God provided them to be our model and guide on how we should structure our own families. Joseph was the loving father who led his family through sacrificial service, Mary was the nurturing mother whose love had no limits, and Jesus was the obedient son who honored his earthly parents to the fulfilment of the Law. Mary and Joseph were obedient to God, always doing what God asked of them no matter how difficult. Jesus brought the heart of the Trinity to the heart of the Holy Family, a family that we are adopted into through our baptisms.